By C1 Staff
NEW YORK – A new pilot program launched earlier this month allows inmates with good behavior to earn $25 dollars a week and monthly pizza parties.
The program is called Adolescents Striving for Change and is meant to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in inmates, reports the New York Magazine.
Similar programs have reduced inmate violence in Massachusetts and Maine, according to Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte, who led the creation of the program in New York.
Those who are currently allowed to participate are either serving less than a year or are awaiting trial.
Housing areas that are incident free for 30 days become eligible for pizza parties and movie nights. Staff can also earn prizes when housing areas they patrol are incident free; treats include free breakfast and gift cards.
The president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Norman Seabrook, said he’d prefer to see bonuses handed out to those who turn over contraband. Seabrook would also like to see funding for the incentive program go toward building inmate skills.